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11.303 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT_TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

(National, University Center and Local Technical Assistance)

FEDERAL AGENCY

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AUTHORIZATION

Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended, Public Law 108-373, 42 U.S.C. 3147.

OBJECTIVES

EDA oversees three technical assistance programs (National, Local and University Center) that promote economic development and alleviate under-employment and unemployment in distressed areas. The program provides funds to: (1) establish and operated University Centers which enlist the resources of their sponsoring institutions of higher education in promoting economic development; (2) support innovative economic development projects; (3) disseminate information and studies of economic development issues of national significance; and (4) finance feasibility studies and other projects leading to local economic development. Aids the long-range economic development of areas with severe unemployment and low family income problems; aids in the development of public facilities and private enterprise to help create new, permanent jobs.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

Technical assistance is used to provide information, data, and know-how in evaluating, shaping and implementing specific projects and programs that promote economic development in economically depressed areas.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

Most technical assistance recipients are private or public nonprofit organizations; educational institutions; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; municipal, county or State governments and U.S. Territories or entities thereof. Occasionally, EDA awards program funds to private sector firms or individuals to conduct activities which EDA has determined will benefit the general economic development community. Program funds, not be awarded to individuals and for profit organizations to start or expand a private enterprise.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Projects are intended to assist in solving economic development problems, respond to economic development opportunities, and expand organizational capacity for economic development.

Credentials/Documentation

A nonprofit organization is required to submit its articles of incorporation charters for nonprofit organizations and a certificate of good standing, issued by the State in which it is incorporated. Applicants must demonstrate capability to complete the work program proposed in the nonprofit organizations must work in cooperation with a political subdivision of a State.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

Applicants should submit proposals, following the format specified in 13 CFR 304, through an Economic Development Representative to the appropriate EDA regional office for projects with local or regional impact (including University Center proposals) and to EDA Headquarters for projects with national or multi- regional impacts or that serve a national demonstration purpose. This program, except for National technical assistance, in most cases is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372 "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

Applicants whose proposals are selected for further consideration will be given formal instructions and all application materials. This program is subject to provisions of 15 CFR Part 14 Uniform Administrative Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education and other nonprofit organizations and with 15 CFR Part 24 Uniform Administrative Requirements for State and local governments. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education, with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State, local and Indian Tribal governments, and with OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.

Award Procedure

Local technical assistance grants and University Center continuation grants are approved by the appropriate EDA Regional Director. The Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, Department of Commerce, approves all national technical assistance grants and initial university center grants.

Deadlines

See deadlines announced in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 1 month to 4 months.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Proposals for renewal will be reviewed on their own merit.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Technical assistance grantees generally must contribute 50 percent or more of the total project cost in cash or in-kind services. Lower percentages are possible as outlined in 13 CFR 301.4(b), 307.3, 307.7 and 307.9.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Varies, but usually a period of one year. Funds are released as required.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

Grantees must complete Standard Form 270 to receive disbursements. Progress reports are required prior to making subsequent disbursement and shall be submitted in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14, " Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, other Nonprofit and Commercial Organizations" and 15 CFR Part 24, " Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," as applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised June 27, 2003), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et seq). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document. States, local governments, and nonprofit organizations that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year.

Records

Documents and financial reports pertaining to the award must remain available to the Federal government for a minimum of three years from the date of submission of the final financial status report. All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of grantees or subgrantees are required to be maintained by the terms of the agreement. The grantee must retain records for three years after completion of the project or submission of the final financial reports, whichever is later, and have them readily available for inspection and audit.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

13-2050-0-1-452.

Obligations

(Investments) FY 04 $8,346,000; FY 05 est $8,322,000; and FY 06 $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$10,000 to $220,000. The average grant for the University Center Program in fiscal year 2004 was $96,381; for National Technical Assistance projects, $246,866; and for Local Technical Assistance projects, $46,639.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In FY 2004, 98 projects were funded.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

13 CFR Part 307.

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

Refer to Appendix IV of the Catalog for EDA Regional Office addresses.

Headquarters Office

For University Center and Local Technical Assistance grants, refer to Appendix IV of the Catalog for EDA Regional Office addresses and telephone numbers. For National Technical Assistance grants, contact EDA, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of External Affairs and Communication, 1401 Constitution Ave NW, HCHB Room 7822, Washington DC 20230. Telephone: (202) 482-5631.

Web Site Address

http://www.eda.gov/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

University Center projects provide management and technical assistance services to communities, counties, districts, nonprofit development groups, and technology transfer assistance to firms. Many local technical assistance projects help to determine the economic feasibility of various local development projects involving industrial, commercial, and other activities. National technical assistance projects fund reports on innovative economic development and the dissemination of economic development information.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

EDA will invest in applicants who are entrepreneurial in spirit and in action. Potential investments will be analyzed using the following five supplemental evaluation criteria of approximately equal weight: extent that proposed investments are market-based; extent that proposed investments are pro-active in nature and scope; extent that proposed investments look beyond the immediate economic horizon, anticipate economic changes, and diversify the local and regional economy; likelihood that proposed investments maximize the attraction of private sector investments and would not otherwise come to fruition absent EDA's investment; likelihood that proposed investments have a high probability of success; likelihood that proposed investments result in an environment where high skill, high wage jobs are created; and likelihood the proposed investments maximize Return on Taxpayer Investment.